Tennessee Trip: Smokies Baseball

For the summer we went back to Tennessee for a MONTH to go visit my family because Blaine was busy with Zion's Camp for the Young Men. We've been back for a month now, but I haven't documented the things that we did there. I think we did so much, that I feel a little overwhelmed with everything and don't want to take on this daunting task. So I'll start slow and hopefully I'll be able to finish up with everything.

My dad took us to the Smokies game while we were up there. It was the hottest day ever! It was like Arizona heat with the humidity, so it was a killer. I think we only stayed four innings, till we had to throw in the towel and beg my Dad to take us home. :) But for the most part we had a good time. I guess the pictures really tell you how we were feeling that day.

My sister and Emi eating at one of my favorites restaurants, The Chop House. You should go there if you are ever in Tennessee. I'm not sure if it is only a TN thing, or a south thing, but it good. The bread is yummy.


Posing as a baseball player.


Super hot day!


We had to go a little white trash and let the boy go shirtless at the baseball game.


This is how we felt at the end of the game. We nicknamed this picture as the "Baseball face". All I can say is that pictures don't lie.

Fourth of July 2011

I'm so behind, but if I don't start documenting things then I never will. Also the timing of my blog is kind of all messed up because I can't keep up anymore. I wish blogger had a way to change the order of your post. They probably do, but I don't have time to look into it. But who really reads this anyway... right? ;)

Anyway, this Fourth of July we were fortunate to spend time with family at the Whetten's Ranch. We were also very lucky to have my sister and Grandma Neva there to celebrate the Fourth. It's so nice to just relax and enjoy family and the outdoors. I guess I was enjoying my surroundings a little too much and probably everyone else was busy working. Sorry... But anyway it was a nice, relaxing, and fun trip for the family.

The kids got to play with sparklers while we were there. I wanted to get some big fireworks, since we are at a ranch and no one is around us, but decided that it probably wasn't a good idea with all the fires that we have had in AZ this year.


The next day, the kids went swimming in these horse water pails (I think that's what you call them?). They had so much fun in them. Emi and Charly Jae swimming together. Emi is covering her ears because there was a thunderstorm coming and it was seriously the loudest thing that I have ever heard in my life. I'm not sure if it's because it was really close or something about being out in the middle of no where that makes it louder.


Greysen with his diving mask.




We found this frog/toad (not sure what it is) but it was HUGE and GROSS! Can you see it? There were all kinds of animals that were coming out because the animals knew that a storm was coming in. We saw a mouse and a rattlesnake while we were there. On a funny side note, my mother-in-law is probably the toughest women that I know because she almost killed a mouse with her bare hands. We were screaming like babies, but she steps right up and slaps the mouse with her hand. She killed it, not with her hands, but she stabbed it. She is tough! I know for sure that I cannot do that.



And what could make this trip the best? Eating, of course. There was plenty of eating, so I can't complain. Thank you to the Whetten's for a fun time and also the servicemen for protecting this great nation.

First Day of Preschool

Emi started preschool today at Rogers Ranch Preschool. I was getting a little sad the day before because she wasn't going to be with me like she usually is connected to my hip. :) I thought she was going to have a hard time at first, but she was so ready to go. She came back and had such a nice time and I enjoyed my free time that I thought to myself that I should have done this sooner.

Emi getting ready to go to school. Of course, Brenden had to join her.


Emi at preschool getting ready to start her day. She kind of has the "I'm scared" smile.



Emi and Brenden. They play so well with each other. I think Brenden is going to miss having Emi around.




Ok... Maybe not, maybe he'll be just fine without her.